The UEFA European Football Championship "Euro 2024," held in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024, concluded with Spain claiming the trophy after defeating England in the final match. The tournament unfolded against a backdrop of far-right sentiment prevalent across the continent, despite a leftist resurgence in the UK and France during the competition. This championship became a canvas for numerous political messages, intertwined with ongoing events and developments in Europe and worldwide.
Hatred of Others Gaining Momentum
Football, the world's most popular sport, has the potential to unite diverse cultures and bring together historically adversarial nations. Euro 2024 saw unprecedented encounters between teams from countries with recent histories of conflict, such as Serbia, Albania, and Croatia. However, the tournament also highlighted some of the most significant negative aspects exhibited by fans of the participating teams:
1- Balkan conflicts in the stands:
A variety of inflammatory slogans and chants were used by both fans and players, escalating anti-other sentiments. For instance, Albanian striker Mirlind Daku, following his team's draw with Croatia, used a megaphone to chant nationalist slogans against Macedonia and Serbia. In response, Serbia threatened to withdraw from the tournament if Croatia and Albania were not penalized for these hate-filled expressions. Meanwhile, Serbian fans displayed banners depicting Kosovo as part of Serbian territory, chanting "Kosovo is Serbia," and waving Russian flags while cheering for President Vladimir Putin.
2- Presence of the far-right:
A survey conducted by German broadcaster ARD ahead of Euro 2024, involving 1,304 Germans, revealed that 21% of participants preferred more white players on the national football team. The survey also highlighted political divisions, with 47% of Alternative for Germany (AfD) supporters, a far-right party, agreeing with this sentiment.
Euro 2024 witnessed several incidents involving far-right supporters expressing hatred and hostility towards others, especially those of non-European origins, including immigrants and Muslims. For example, some Austrian fans held banners with the phrase "Defend Europe," a well-known anti-Islam and anti-immigration slogan, while some English fans carried signs reading "Stop the Boats."
The issue extended beyond fans to involve players as well, albeit in the opposite direction. French players, including Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, urged their fellow citizens not to vote for the far-right in the recent legislative elections, emphasizing the importance of preserving France's multiethnic identity. This stance sparked outrage from Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, and party members, who criticized the national team's captain Mbappe for his involvement in political matters.
Infrastructure Criticism
Germany's organization of Euro 2024 faced significant criticism, particularly regarding infrastructure and services provided. Philipp Lahm, the tournament's organizing committee director and former German national team captain, candidly admitted that his country had failed to develop its infrastructure over the past decades, citing a lack of investment. The debate surrounding tournament expenditure was polarized, with some arguing that 650 million euros was insufficient for a 24-team tournament, while others deemed it excessively high. Key criticisms included:
1- Congestion and transportation delays:
Fans and participating teams encountered substantial difficulties due to train service delays and cancellations, making stadium access challenging. A notable example was the Netherlands team, forced to resort to a combination of bus and plane travel for their semifinal match against Britain, despite the relatively short distance of less than 300 kilometers between Wolfsburg (their intended departure point) and Dortmund (the match venue). Lahm himself experienced similar issues due to train delays. These problems were evident from the tournament's onset, with train services disrupted in Munich during the opening match between Germany and Scotland. It's worth noting that German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has been plagued by frequent strikes for several years, with workers often threatening to halt train services.
2- Crowd entry and protection issues:
Spectators faced two primary challenges. First, extreme congestion led to prolonged waits for entry into the stands. Scottish fans, for instance, endured over an hour's wait to find their seats during the opening match against Germany. Second, the absence of rain covers during heavy downpours – a standard feature in global stadiums designed to protect fields, players, and fans – was glaringly apparent.
3- Unprepared stadiums:
Typically, countries hosting major sporting events prioritize stadium infrastructure, meticulously assessing conditions, capacity, and other technical aspects before committing to host such events. This scrutiny extends to both training grounds and official match venues. However, Euro 2024 in Germany appeared to deviate from this norm. Despite Germany securing the hosting rights with 12 votes to Turkey's four, there were notable lapses in preparation. For example, the Swiss team was taken aback when Stuttgart municipality apologized for failing to prepare their designated training field – a detail that should have been coordinated well in advance between UEFA and the German Football Association. Moreover, some players and coaches voiced concerns about poor field conditions, as evidenced in the Frankfurt stadium used for the Denmark vs. England group stage match.
Politicization of Sports
A German TV series titled "Dogs of Berlin" was produced to portray the murder of a German player of Turkish descent, neo-Nazi violence and extremism, and criminal activities of Turkish gangs attacking shops and extorting protection money. Six years after Germany's political use of drama and its competition with Turkey to host Euro 2024, Turkish player Merih Demiral utilized sports for political purposes. After scoring a goal against Austria in the round of 16 match, he celebrated by flashing the "Grey Wolves" salute, a gesture associated with an organization banned in Austria and under surveillance in Germany since 2018.
The proposal to ban this right-wing extremist organization coincided with the airing of "Dogs of Berlin," making Demiral's gesture a continuation of the political narrative that began in 2018. His actions led to a tense diplomatic exchange between Germany and Turkey, resulting in both countries recalling their respective ambassadors. The situation was further complicated when UEFA opened an investigation under Article 31 of its disciplinary regulations.
German Federal Minister of the Interior and Community Nancy Faeser stated that "symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums." This statement notably linked extremism specifically with Turkey due to the "Grey Wolves," implying that other far-right movements might be more acceptable.
The tension between Berlin and Ankara could have been mitigated by simply punishing the Turkish player according to tournament rules. However, officials from both countries favored escalation, potentially creating an unnecessary diplomatic crisis. This situation represents another chapter in the ongoing politicization of sports in the relationship between the two nations.
Recalling the Past
Germany's hosting of Euro 2024 reignited debates about the infrastructure of Europe's largest economy and one of the world's top five economies. Some Arabs drew comparisons between the organization of this tournament and Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup, recalling the diplomatic tension between Berlin and Doha at the time. Various reports analyzed the costs and revenues of hosting major tournaments like the World Cup, noting that financial benefits for host countries are both immediate and long-term. A notable report published by The Economist on November 18, 2022, examined the financial outcomes for World Cup host countries from 1966 (in Britain) to 2018 (in Russia), concluding that only Russia saw a short-term financial return, estimated at 24% above the cost.
Typically, countries do not reap significant profits in the same year they host a tournament. Exceptions like Russia, France, and Germany have unique circumstances. For Euro 2024, Germany relied on existing infrastructure from the 2006 World Cup, minimizing additional spending according to officials. Consequently, the expected profits this year are not comparable to those of a country like Qatar, which hosted a major global tournament for the first time in 2022 and had to invest heavily in infrastructure, including airports, stadiums, hotels, and roads. These investments are intended not only for the tournament period but also to boost the national economy through tourism revenue, job creation, and attracting investors. This approach has been recognized by all countries hosting major sporting events. A McKinsey report projected that Russia's hosting of the 2018 World Cup would boost its economy by $13.3 billion over the following five years.
In summary, Euro 2024 carried numerous political messages reflecting the current mindset of ruling elites and the public. Racism and hatred of others found fertile ground in the stadiums, streets, and train stations, asserting their presence and challenging values of coexistence and acceptance of different races, cultures, and religions. Germany demonstrated that organizational chaos is not exclusive to small or large countries or to any specific culture but is determined by the mindset governing genuine or double standards. While Germany may reap significant financial profits this year or later, it will face long-term criticism from its Western allies, as well as from countries with whom its relations have been strained recently.
